You've got mail

That time of the year when the doorbells of Digital India constantly clamour with different sounds, sounds that make the ears miss the tones of another bell.

- Chetna Keer

As its curtains down on another year, it opens the door to memory lane. As Christmas and New Year narratives see Digital India's doorbell ringing fast and furious to new-age tones -- BlinkIt to Big Basket, Zepto to Zomato ferrying year-end deliveries, it's time for nostalgia to tiptoe in.

What a pity that GenNext -- post-millennials -- shall never know the sound of a bell that came tinkling down the bend when New Year crept round the corner.

For whom the bell tolls

Come December end and that bell sounded busier. As did the postman bustling about the neighbourhood, on his bloated belly and bicycle, bearing a bountiful load of letters. Bigger, bulkier, busier.

New Year greeting cards.

The bell tinkled and trilled more fast and furious, as the postman used to ferry forth an armload of cards to every letterbox down the lane. He puffed and pedalled to ensure the greetings landed on time.

How times have since changed!